Honouring those wh preserve our history

WHILE MOST people spend their time planning and thinking about the fu- ture, Yvonne Moen spends her days learning about the past.

“How can we look “ahead if’ we don’t know

what our past is?” Moen says.

She’s astounded that many local residents don’t know. who the founder of Terrace is. (George Little seitled here in 1905.) And only a handful of people are aware Thornhill was named after a local man named'Tom Thornhill, she said.

“Moen spends countless hours meeting with Ter- -race pioneers because _She’s fascinated by their “stories of the good ol’ days.

/ 2 SL just love it. You meet ‘so many people who are so pleased that they can tell

“you their stery,” Moen Said.

“Without them Terrace ~Wouldn’t exist. When they came: here there was noth-

ing but bush.”

Now that she is retired, Moen can wholeheartedly concentrate on the three historical projects she’s pot onthe go. She wants to ensure Terrace’s history is preserved and well do- cumented.

"AS a member of a group ' called Terrace and Region -

“Archives; Moen and 10 other . dedicated women have created a web site . documenting the history of the Skeena Valley. _c-* The group, which was - created last spring, has “-been busy collecting stor- ies and old ‘photographs “and posting them on the

PRESERVING THE PAST: Members of the Terrace and Region Archives preserve local history by collect- ing stories and photographs from local pioneers. and posting them on a newly-created web page.

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 1, 2000 - A5 CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

the Internet can learn about the region’s pio- neers. The Terrace Public Library offered the group a computer and scanner to create the web site.

Helen Haselmeyer, who

designed the web page, said the site is dedicated |

to the early settlers — the men and women who struggled living in the wilderness of the Skeena Valley

“We pay a tribute to all of them for their many hours of hard work and struggle and their dedica- tion to clear the way for the rest of us now lo enjoy

Moen said she’s worried that if the early pioncers’ stories aren’t preserved today, they may be lost forever.

“I feel if we don’t do this now we'll be toa late,” she said. “Many people won't be alive to tell their stories. It’ll all be hearsay.”

The web site can be reached by accessing the Terrace public: library’s web site at: hitp:{/plosg.net.

Moen is also working on a project called “How our streels were named.”

She explained none of the streets outside of the

city of Terrace were pro- perly registered,

No one took the time to write down who the streets in Thornhill, Lakelse Lake, Remo or streets off Kalum Lake Drive were named after or recorded the date the streets were created.

After a bit of investiga- ting, which involved mak- ing dozens of phone calls to oldtimers and surveyors and pouring over city do- cuments, Moen and Hasel- meyer have determined who hundreds of streets in the area were named after.

“It’s easy to do,” she said. “You talk to ¢ one per-

son and they give you a name of someone who can help and you go from there.”

Another historical pro- ject Moen is working on

is called “This Old House.” She and Hase!l- meyer have lacated,

photographed and resear- ched the history of 65 -local houses that were built before 1940 and still slanding today.

“It’s interesting learning the stories about these lit- tle houses,” she said.

Both the House, and Street projects will be completed by the end of

- web site so anyone surfing

r

today,” Haselmeyer said,

sade Poa bebo

RECORDING HISTORY: History student Maureen Atkinson will get a credit fram the. University of Northern B.C. for the work she’s done preserving old

CBC audio tapes.

Remembering our roots

OVER THE past two months Maureen At- kinson has listened to 40 years of history.

Contracted by the CBC and the Prince Rupert City Archives, her job involves listening to stacks of CBC audio tapes from 1950 to 1980 and dubbing them onto CDs.

Singlehandedly, she’s recorded, cata- logued and preserved 40 years of CBC Stories, interviews and music for future generations of listeners.

In all she’s listened to 290 individual tapes that have taught her more about the past than she imagined.

“It's fascinating,” Atkinson said. “I’ve been telling people I’ve literally been

- dragged through history.”

The tapes, she says, replicate society at. the. time.

_ “They seem to really shadow the so- cial:changes that took place,” she said.

"> “After-listening to every tape Atkinson says she’s heard the women’s movement take shape, noting how attitudes towards women have changed over the years.

’* For example, on a tape from the 1950s Will’ Hankingon, Prince Rupert’s CBC ‘station manager, tells listeners that most ‘radio stations, including his own, won’t “accept women as announcers.

like this weren’t considered derogatory — they were the industry standard.

“ve been appalled, surprised, en- deared, frightened, bul mostly amazed,” she said.

From 1950 to 1960 there were only a handful women who were given on air spots. The tapes from the 50s and 60s, Al- kinson said, were dominated by male voices and male broadcasters.

“I'm hearing the social altitudes of male middle class announcers,” she said.

“They didn’t have female voices.”

The exception, she said, was a woman named Mary Bird, who in 1954 was given a part time summer job announcing.

But when Bird’s contract was up at the end of the summer, she was denied full- time announcing jobs because she was a woman, She worked as the CBC’s office secretary instead.

Atkinson said it isn’t until 1970s that she noticed women became more promi- nent voices on air.

“Tt was like a quantum leap to the Se- venties. You can hear the change in soc- iety and social values,” she explained.

As a history student at the University of Northern B.C., Atkinson knew listening to the tapes would be great learning tool.

Now that her work cataloguing: and

Oded baa rei tiis e b

ix

March.

Pye barre y

Freed ey Serer Ra Ca

Terrace author's second history book ready for publication

LOCAL AUTHOR Norma Bennett’s second his- tory book entitled Pioneer Legacy Volume Il, is wrilten and ready for publication.

“fT think the pioneers should be re- membered because they have our history. I would like them to be remembered.”

— Norma Bennett.

Bennett’s first baok “Pioneer Legacy: Chroni- cles of the Lower Skeena River”, which focussed on the history of the Skeena, was published in 1997, lt was a huge success, winning second prize from the BC Historical Society.

Bennett, 88, has been collecting information and photographs for the books for over 25 years. After interviewing dozens of pioneers over the years, she has enough information for four vo- lumes, ali on local history.

“I think the pioneers should be remembered be- cause they have our history,” Bennett said. “J would like them to be remembered,”

Pioneer Legacy Val 2 encompasses a time per- iod from 1800 to 1920, and contains information about the building of the railway, telegraph line, and the early mail services,

The third and forth volumes, which have already been writlen, will contain information on the his- tory of Terrace and the pioneers of the area.

Bennett said it’s critical for people to learn their local history.

“It’s very important to know where you came from,” she said. “It’s your roots.”

Alt proceeds from the book go to the Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation, which publishes the books.

“[ want to give back to the community,” Ben- nett said,

Helene McRae, who's editing the book, said each volume contains over 100 pictures of the area,

“She's done a tremendous job,” McRae said.

THE PROVINCE celebrated Heritage Week Feb, 21-27 to pive people an oppartunity to celebrate the impor-

tance of our heritage as an essential link to our past.

More than 300,000 visitors passed through the gates of B.C, Heritage sites last year. Research says that more than half of B.C.'s six million visitors cach year they are

interested in some cultural activity.

Heritage and historic resources comprise almost two-

thirds of the province's cultural tourism assets.

BC's first designated historic site: Victoria's Helmck-

The Mail Bag

Public frozen out

Dear Sir:

Iam writing in response to the article “Health forums dumped” (Terrace Standard, Feb. 9, 2000).

The reasons given for not having the public i in- volved doesn‘t make sense to me,

It says they are willing to still meet with some groups or individuals who “have a stake in health

Don’t we all have a stake in that?

Private meetings will take just as long, and how else can we, the public, take this bul as an | attempt to freeze us out?

Our Health Council claims they had no knowl- edge of this decision. How come?

Helen Davies Terrace B.C.

Overpass idea overdue

Dear Sir:

Concerning your lead article, “Let's drive under the overpass” (Terrace Standard, Feb, 16, 2000), this is a traffic project which has been long over- due for Terrace.

This proposed road should have been construct- ed more than a decade ago, before most of the commercial development along the north side of Keith Avenue was built, let alone having to wait several more years for more studies, remedial work and funding.

Jamie Middleton Kitimat B.C.

Police had three names

Dear Sir:

Thanks for bringing us another interesting Cana- da Quiz (Terrace Standard, Feb. 23, 2000). The answer for question #22 is incorrect, however.

In fact, the title “Royal” was not conferred on Canada’s national police force until 1905 owing to their contribution during the Boer War on behalf of the Crown.

Between 1905 and 1920, the correct title was “Royal Northwest Mounted Police” as you have listed.

However, the earliest name for the force was simply “Northwest Mounted Police”, in effect from its inception in 1883 until 1905.

Tom Kalis Terrace B.C.

Still searching

Dear Sir:

I thought my search for a meaningful life was complete when The Ultimate Source landed on my doorstep last Sunday.

A book with a title like that should have the an- swer to just about any question imaginable I thought!

‘How-sorely disappointed, Iwas jwhen | flipped through the Yellow pages hoping to find Spiritual Fulfilment. All 1 got was. Spill:Cleanup'atid Conifol! ° — a poor substitute.

A check for Wisdom only got me between Win- ery Tours and Wire Fences; mayle a liltle closer. Enlightenment? Sorry, not even close.

Maybe the phone book should just stay a phone book and ['ll continue my search the old fashioned way. ;

- Michael Bruce Terrace B.C,

A sad epitaph

Dear Sir:

Where are the howls of indignation?

One shott line in a full page P.R. publication by. our Coast Mountain School District read “there will be no resumption of grade six and seven band”.

What a sad epitaph for what has been for many years, the pride of the northwest.

And just who are these most omnipotent people that can throw around countless thousands of dol- lars - our dollars — to merely give credence to their view thal they are right, and we, the underlings, are wrong?

I may be badly mistaken, but | was under the impression that the school district was employed by the taxpayers of this province.

And just what does some distant bottom, line company in the Lower Mainland know just what is and is not important to us in the Pacific Northwest?

I will say, in their defence, they follow in the footsteps of the provincial and federal governments when if comes to throwing around money like a drunken sailor.

Something is very wrong with this administra- tion, and I don’t think it takes another multi-thou- sand dollar report to figure this aut.

It’s not really necessary to go into the benefits of music programs:

This has been clearly stated time and time again, but just does not seem ta sink into our flat earth administration,

Where are the 700 hundred angry people that filled the theatre at the school board mecting, and flooded the scheol board office al the other meet- ings when our administration dug in their. heels to say “we're right and your are all wrong’?

These programs must not be hung oul to dry,

They are far loo important to our students.

These programs are not so much about building good musicians as they are about creating good people. This cannot be overstated,

Come on now. Let's not give up the fight,

It’s our right to determine our children’s or grandchildren’s opportunities offered towards their education,

God, please send us back Ted Wells and Jack Cook to restore some sanily to this district’s.ad ministration,

Jim’ Ryan Terrace B.C,

About the letters

The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor, Our deadline is noon Fridays.

: “It’s important to have women as lis- en House, designated in 1941...

‘tenets,’ ” he says in an: interview. “Women °

‘will not ‘listen to. women announcers.” * ‘Atkinson is astounded that interviews

preserving the tapes is complete, she said she hopes the CDs will be accessible to tlie public in the future.

Number of designated provincial and municipal his- toric sites in BC, including buildings and shipwrecks:

‘more than 1,100.

You can write to us at 3210 Clinton St., Ter- race, B.C. V8G 5R2. Our fax number is 250-638-8432,